Systems and methods for allowing a user to access blocked media

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein for enabling a user to access a blocked media asset. These systems and methods allow a user to request that a parent, or another user, who can approve access to the blocked media asset approve access to the blocked media asset for viewing. The request may be transmitted as a notification to a mobile phone or another suitable device, such that the parent the other user can approve the request, even though they may be remote from the requesting user. Both the requesting user and the user whose approval is required to unblock the media asset (i.e., the approver), are identified by the system based on an identifier associated with each user. This informs the approver which user submitted the request. Additionally, this also adds a layer of security, since the approver must enter an identifier to authenticate their identity to the system before being able to unblock the program for the requesting user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving a request to access an asset that is blocked for a first user; 
 determining, from a first profile of the first user, a second user who has authority to approve access to the asset for the first user; 
 transmitting, to a user equipment device of the second user, a notification that the first user has requested access to the asset that is blocked; 
 determining that the second user is not available to respond to the notification; 
 determining, from the first profile of the first user, a third user who has authority to approve access to the asset for the first user; 
 transmitting for display, at a user equipment device of the third user, an option to allow access to the asset by the first user; and 
 upon receiving a selection of the option to allow access to the asset, unblocking the blocked asset for access by the first user. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the option to allow access to the asset is generated for display after an authorization code is inputted at the user equipment of the third user. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the asset is an application. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first profile of the first user includes a data structure storing at least one of:
 an age of the first user; 
 a flag indicating whether the first user has authority to approve access to the asset; 
 a social media account associated with the first user; 
 a phone number associated with the first user; 
 an email address associated with the first user; 
 a list of viewing preferences of the first user; or 
 a list of user profiles that have approver rights for said first user profile. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein determining that the second user is not available to respond to the notification further comprises determining the user equipment device of the second user is unable to receive the notification. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the notification includes at least one of:
 a genre of the asset; 
 a rating of the asset; 
 a link to a webpage associated with the asset; 
 a preview associated with the asset; 
 a personalized communication from the first user; or 
 an indication why the asset was blocked. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , the notification is personalized by the first user to include at least one of:
 a written message; 
 a photo; 
 a video; or 
 an audio message. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, from a third profile of the third user, whether the user equipment device of the third user is associated with the third user; and 
 in response to determining the user equipment device of the third user is associated with the third user:
 transmitting, to the third user on the user equipment device of the third user, the notification indicating that the first user has requested access to the asset that is blocked; 
 receiving, from the user equipment device of the third user, an identifier of the third user; 
 comparing the identifier of the third user with an identifier in the third profile; and 
 in response to determining that the identifier of the third user matches the identifier in the third profile, generating for display on the user equipment device of the third user the option to unblock the asset for access by the first user. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the second user is not available to respond to the notification further comprises:
 determining the second user has exceeded a threshold time to respond to the notification. 
 
     
     
       10. A system comprising:
 input/output circuitry; 
 storage circuitry; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 receive, using the input/output circuitry, a request to access an asset that is blocked for a first user; 
 determine, from a first profile of the first user stored in the storage circuitry, a second user who has authority to approve access to the asset for the first user; 
 transmit, using the input/output circuitry, to a user equipment device of the second user, a notification that the first user has requested access to the asset that is blocked; 
 determine that the second user is not available to respond to the notification; 
 determine, from the first profile of the first user, a third user who has authority to approve access to the asset for the first user; 
 transmit for display, using the input/output circuitry, at a user equipment device of the third user, an option to allow access to the asset by the first user; and 
 upon receiving, using the input/output circuitry, a selection of the option to allow access to the asset, unblock the blocked asset for access by the first user. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the option to allow access to the asset is generated for display after an authorization code is inputted at the user equipment of the third user. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the asset is an application. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first profile of the first user includes a data structure storing at least one of:
 an age of the first user; 
 a flag indicating whether the first user has authority to approve access to the asset; 
 a social media account associated with the first user; 
 a phone number associated with the first user; 
 an email address associated with the first user; 
 a list of viewing preferences of the first user; or 
 a list of user profiles that have approver rights for said first user profile. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the second user is not available to respond to the notification by determining the user equipment device of the second user is unable to receive the notification. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the notification includes at least one of:
 a genre of the asset; 
 a rating of the asset; 
 a link to a webpage associated with the asset; 
 a preview associated with the asset; 
 a personalized communication from the first user; or 
 an indication why the asset was blocked. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the notification is personalized by the first user to include at least one of:
 a written message; 
 a photo; 
 a video; or 
 an audio message. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine, from a third profile of the third user, whether the user equipment device of the third user is associated with the third user; and 
 in response to determining the user equipment device of the third user is associated with the third user:
 transmit, using the input/output circuitry, to the third user on the user equipment device of the third user, the notification indicating that the first user has requested access to the asset that is blocked; 
 receive, using the input/output circuitry, from the user equipment device of the third user, an identifier of the third user; 
 compare the identifier of the third user with an identifier in the third profile; and 
 in response to determining that the identifier of the third user matches the identifier in the third profile, generate for display on the user equipment device of the third user the option to unblock the asset for access by the first user. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine that the second user is not available to respond to the notification further based on:
 determining the second user has exceeded a threshold time to respond to the notification.